I have a question...

I have been perusing the Tennessee Landforms site trying to discover new waterfalls to go and explore. I have found one that has peaked my curiosity. While this is not in the Smokies, it is in the Cherokee National Forest--our mountain neighbors to the Southeast of us. The waterfall is Miller Mine Falls. This waterfall can be seen from the road when the leaves aren't on the trees. It rivals Bald River Falls when it is running well. My question is...Is there a way to get to this waterfall through a hiking trail or manway or is this one I am just going to have to admire from the road??? It doesn't look like you can get "upclose and personal" with it unless you try to cross the river. That spot in the river is just too dangerous and deep to do it. I am just trying to figure out if there is another way to get to it and if it is negotiable to hike to it. Any information that you'all have or can find out would be appreciated. Thanks!! e. :)

If you guys do this, keep me posted!! As far as Maples is concerned, I don't think that you would have to use him as a shield. As many folks as he knows in these surrounding parts, he would probably be kin to them somehow or know someone who was!!! LOL e. ;)

Well in all honesty I first thought about doing that about three years ago. You only reminded me of it so we shall see if it actually happens. As for getting shot I am pretty cautious. I get a little nervous sometimes hiking close to the National Park border too. Don't mind if I am with Maples because he is always ahead so I at least have someone to duck behind LOL!

I would guess that it might be. This particular waterfall is not too far from the Skyway turnoff. Would make sense there being some sort of house or cabin back there since it is sort of close to the main road. I thought that there was a service road that crossed the river down through there somewhere. Seems like there is or was some sort of backcountry campsite or something on the other side. A friend of mine and her husband (at the time...) had been down there with some friends going four-wheelin and was telling me that the campsite was back there. Just be very careful if you do decide to go back and explore. I don't want you shot at just because of our curiosity!!! e. :)

Any house (and that was the only one I saw) would be a few hundred feet above the falls. I would not usually go to the top anyway. I am not sure if that house was above the one you were talking about. I think that falls was farther up. I think there are 3 falls up various side creeks. I would just walk up the creek as I don't think most of them are that far up. I might give it a shot after it gets warmer.

You know Mike, when I was younger, I might would give this a shot and not think twice about it! But at my age, the idea of getting shot at for trespassing or worse, drowning trying to get a picture of this waterfall just probably "ain't a gud idear"....!!! While I am delighted knowing that there IS an access to it, I think that I shall pass on THAT type of adventure!!! I would venture a guess maybe that if there is a house THAT close to the falls, that there just might be a man-made trail to the top of the falls. Here again tho, don't want to p*** somebody off being where I shouldn't be!!! So, I will just stand over on River Road with my little tripod and do the best I can with it!!! e. :D

E, I checked that out on the map and know exactly what falls you are talking about. You probably already noticed that there are a few of them across that River on the other side. Most of them are wet weather falls which means crossing the river just got harder. If the water is low then they probably would not be worth doing. Anyway, a few years ago when I still had a 4WD I took that forest service road across the river and drove up looking for access to any of the waterfalls. I forget which of the falls it was but I found a gravel road heading right down to it. Lead me right down to private property and dogs! Luckily I saw them before they saw me. THere were no signs indicating it as a driveway or private property. That falls would have been just down from the house. All of those falls would be off trail and a steep climb down to them. But after my first walk I decided it might not be worth it. I had an idea that I never pursued but would be game when the weather warms up. I considered the notion of putting my camera in a waterproof container and tubing across. You would have to start up from it in order to get across but it is an idea. Of course with mutiple people you could get one person across and use a rope to tube the others across quicker. Let me know if you want to give it a shot when the weather warms up. I am game!